Former Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) is resigning as president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, according to a source familiar with the group.

Tauzin joined the drug industry’s top trade group in 2005. In recent months, he was a central figure in the now-stalled health care reform debate for cutting an $80 billion pharmaceutical deal with the White House and Senate Democrats.

The one-time Democrat switched his party affiliation following the 1994 GOP House takeover and eventually became chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.